the Island of Jamaica, or by causing the American vessels of war now stationed in the waters of the Antilles and Central America to be instructed to watch the said steamer. I ask this in view of the fact that the munitions in question left a port of the United States and in consideration of the friendly relations existing between our two countries. To this effect I have addressed the consular representatives of Great Britain and Mexico, asking them to use their good offices in Jamaica and at Progreso, and I have had the satisfaction to receive such replies from them as were to be expected from the representatives of nations which are on friendly terms with the Republic of Honduras. I hope that the action taken by your excellency will likewise be favorable, and that you will issue suitable orders in the case, using your influence, as far as possible, to prevent the expedition in question from being successful. This, I trust, that you will do, to prevent the tranquillity of the country which I represent from being disturbed, and to forestall, as a humanitarian act, the effusion of blood which will naturally take place if the success of the expedition can in nowise be frustrated. In the name of my Government I have the honor to express to you my deepest gratitude for the assistance which I have received from the customs authorities in New York, and I desire to express the same in advance for anything that you may be pleased to do in compliance with the request which I take the liberty to address to you by this communication, all of which I shall report in detail to my Government. I have, &c., [Inclosure 2 in No. 325.] Mr. Bayard to Mr. Baiz. JACOB BAIZ. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 24th ultimo relative to alleged revolutionary attempts which have been made, and are still being made, by certain individuals against the peace of Honduras. A copy of your letter has been given to the Attorney-General and the Secretary of the Treasury for their information. I am, &c., [Inclosure 3 in No. 325.] Mr. Bayard to Mr. Baiz. T. F. BAYARD. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, SIR: In connection with my letter to you of the 7th instant, I have now to apprise you of the receipt of a communication from the Acting Secretary of the Treasury, of the 9th instant, saying that his Department will use all legal endeavors, through its collectors of customs, to prevent any violation of the neutrality laws on the part of any individuals against the Republic of Honduras. I am, &c., [Inclosure 4 in No. 325.] T. F. BAYARD. Mr. Baiz to Mr. Bayard. CONSULATE GENERAL OF HONDURAS IN THE UNITED States of AMERICA, New York, January 18, 1886. (Received January 19.) SIR: I have the honor of owning the receipt of the communications of your excellency, dated 7th and 12th instant, and in reply beg to tender best thanks, in the name of my Government, for the efficient measures adopted towards preventing a violation of the neutrality laws on the part of any individuals against the Republic of Honduras, which I have the honor of representing. I shall consider it my duty to inform your excellency of any new occurrences that may transpire, regarding the revolutionary movements in question, and remain, &c. JACOB BAIZ, Consul-General. No. 248.] [Inclosure 5 in No. 325.] Mr. Baiz to Mr. Bayard. CONSULATE-GENERAL OF HONDURAS IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, New York, January 26, 1886. (Received January 27.) SIR: I have the honor of confirming my note to your excellency of 18th instant, and now beg leave to inclose a clipping from the New York Times of this date, relative to the movements of the American steamer City of Mexico, since she left this port last month. Your excellency will observe that the revolutionary purpose for which said steamer was intended, and which was frustrated here, as explained in my communication to your excellency of 24th of December last, is apparently being carried out now, and consequently I beg leave to reiterate my request, contained in my stated note, that orders be transmitted to the United States war vessels stationed in those waters to watch the steamer City of Mexico, and prevent her from perpetuating any hostile acts against the Republic of Honduras, said steamer having left this port ostensibly for that purpose. In behalf of the Government of Honduras that I have the honor of representing, I beg to anticipate my thanks to your excellency for whatever measures the United States Government may deem convenient to adopt in this matter, and remain, &c., JACOB BAIZ, Consul-General. [Inclosure 6 in No. 325.-Extract from the New York Times of January 26, 1886.] WRECKED ON THE HONDURAS COAST. NEW ORLEANS, LA., January 25. The steamship City of Dallas, Captain Read, from Puerto to Cortez, via Livingston and Belize, Honduras, with a cargo of tropical products, arrived this noon. She reports that the heavy norther which prevailed on the coast of Honduras on the 8th instant destroyed thousands of banana plants and drove ashore many small coasting vessels, among which were the Mississippi and Cold Stream, belonging to the American Fruit Company at Tela. The American steamship City of Mexico, from New York, touched ot Belize on the 12th instant and took on board a number of political refugees from the Spanish American republics, and sailed to the eastward. The report of the arrival of the City of Mexico, with a filibustering crew, alarmed the people on the coasts of Guatemala and Honduras, and caused a general suspension of business, the banana negro laborers and the mahogany wood-cutters fleeing to the bush to avoid being pressed into military service. No. 249.] [Inclosure 7 in No. 325.] Mr. Baiz to Mr. Bayard. CONSULATE-GENERAL OF HONDURAS IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, SIR: In confirmation of what I had the honor of reporting to your excellency in my communication of 26th instant, relative to the American steamer City of Mexico, I now beg to transmit, for the information of your excellency, the following extract from a letter of the commander of Puerto Cortes, Republic of Honduras, dated 18th instant, and which I received to-day. It says thus: "City of Mexico arrived on 10th instant at Belize, and sailed on 12th for Bluefields. Delgado, Morey, and twenty-odd more filibusters on board. She is said to go from Bluefields to Kingston for arms. I am sorry they did not come here; sbould have given them a hot reception. If they come again, and I get sure information where they are, I shall start with 100 men for them. We want to stop this; the effect on business is very bad, though they cannot do any harm. We are everywhere prepared for them." The foregoing, which I submit for the consideration of your excellency, confirms the former reports regarding the hostile intentions of the American steamer City of Mexico, and in behalf of my Government I respectfully solicit that your excellency adopt such measures as may prevent the consummation of hostile acts against the Republic of Honduras by a vessel under the United States flag. Anticipating my thanks to your excellency for kind attention to the matter at issue, I am, &c., SIR: I have to acknowledge the receipt of the several communications which, in the absence of the diplomatic representative of Honduras, you have addressed to me under date of the 26th and 28th instant, relative to the movements of the steamer City of Mexico in the waters of Belize and Honduras. It appears from your statements that the acts of which your Government complains were effected while the City of Mexico was within the jurisdiction of Great Britain. It is said that the City of Mexico took on board, at Belize, certain persons hostile to Honduras, and carried them to Honduranean territory. It is immaterial to consider whether this act was a fitting out of a hostile expedition, for, even assuming it to have been such, the offense would be against the sovereign neutrality of Great Britain, to be dealt with by British law, and not punished by the armed hand of the United States. I have no desire to prejudge any judicial resort which may be sought, should the City of Mexico or the persons carried by her come hereafter within the jurisdiction of the United States. I desire merely to establish the principle that this Government is under no obligation to follow the vessels rightfully bearing its flag into the ports of any foreign country there to enforce the laws of such country with respect to neutrality. Of its determination to enforce the laws of the United States within the jurisdiction of the United States, to prevent the fitting out and departure of armed force against the peace of our neighbors, this Government has given abundant proof. I am, &c., No. 39. Mr. Bayard to Mr. Hall. T. F. BAYARD. No. 329.] DEPARTMENT OF STATE, SIR: I inclose, for your information, a copy of a letter from Mr. Fernando C. Valentine, consul-general of Guatemala at New York, dated the 13th instant, touching the alleged violations of the United States neutrality statutes by the enemies of Honduras and Salvador, and asking the assurances of this Government, conjointly with those of Guatemala, to insure the peace of the Central American Republics. I add also my letter, in reply, of the 19th instant, declining to give such assurances, but saying, at the same time, that no effort would be spared in case of proper application by any one of those states to prevent and punish any violation of our neutrality acts. I am, &c., T. F. BAYARD. [Inclosure 1 in No. 329.] Mr. Valentine to Mr. Bayard. CONSULATE-GENERAL OF GUATEMALA, 345 PRODUCE EXCHANGE, New York, February 13, 1886. (Received February 15.) SIR: I have the honor to translate the following letter I have just received from Guatemala, which I believe to be of sufficient international interest to warrant my calling your attention to it, demonstrating as it does the marked amity that exists between the Central American Republics, and clearly evincing that such North American interests as are vested in the Republics of Central America are by no means menaced by such filibustering projects as have recently been discussed by the press of the United States, and further showing that if ever a project of any noteworthy dimensions should be put on foot to overthrow either of the Governments mentioned, they would be staunchly met by the combined forces of the interested Governments, who are determining to preserve peace at all hazards. I communicate the subjoined letter to you with a view that you may, if you deem proper, make public my assurance that those who have interests of any kind in Central America need cherish no fears as to their safety; and, further, I would remind all that the dissemination of rumors of war, which I assure you are but rumors, will by no means act as a remedy for the fact that still six-sevenths of the trade of Central America is done with Europe, whose merchants are not at all alarmed by what might prove an impediment to the increase of the trade of the United States, if such assurances did not exist as are portrayed by the following letter: Doctor FERNANDO C. VALENTINE, [Translation.] DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN RELATIONS, Consul-General of Guatemala in New York: It has come to the knowledge of this Government that some persons residing in New York City are endeavoring to send filibustering expeditions intended to disturb the peace and order of the Republics of Honduras and Salvador. Inasmuch as the perpetuation of peace in Central America particularly interests Guatemala, and actuated by a desire to preserve the sister Republics from any disturbance, the President commissions me to charge you to employ all of your zeal and activity in the discovery of such steps as are taken in the United States to the above ends, and that you do all in your power to impede the said expeditions, and that you will take the same interest in these matters as if they concerned this Republic (of Guatemala) exclusively. You will inform me by cable of any matter that you may deem important in this connection. I am, &c., ANTONIO LOZO ARRIAGA. In view of the foregoing facts that are borne out by the above letter, and in evidence of the friendship of the United States of North America towards the Republic of Guatemala, do you authorize me to cable my Government as follows: "Secretary State this Government assures me that its assistance is at our command to prevent expeditions against Central America, should any arise." While Guatemala has no fear of such expeditions as have recently been mentioned, and while the letter I have transmitted expresses only a desire for positive information, the cablegram above suggested will counteract the unfavorable impression that cannot fail to be created in Central America by some of the matter that has recently been published in papers that will shortly reach our countries, and the context of that matter may, I fear, produce in the minds of many a misapprehension of the feelings of the Government of the United States towards Central America, inasmuch as several of the reports make it appear that your Government allows filibustering expeditions to be equipped and armed undisturbedly against friendly nations. The cablegram I suggest will at once annul any such erroneous conceptions. Assuring you, sir, that the Government of Guatemala, under the Presidency of General Manuel Lisandro Barillas, cherishes the most profound respect for its great sister, the United States of America, I have, &c., FERNANDO C. VALENTINE, [Inclosure 2 in No. 329.] Mr. Bayard to Mr. Valentine. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, February 19, 1886. SIR: I have received your letter of the 13th instant transcribing a note addressed to yourself by the minister for foreign affairs of Guatemala, wherein he apprehends that filibustering expeditions are about to be dispatched from New York against the peace of Honduras and Salvador. You thereupon ask to be authorized to cable your Government that you have received the assurances of the United States that its assistance is at the command of Guatemala to prevent expeditions against Central America should any arise. Although the Government of the United States has given heretofore abundant proor of its determination to uphold its neutrality statutes in respect to the Governments of Central America, as well as in respect to all other Governments which may be involved in wars, domestic or foreign, I am unable to comply with your wishes as expressed. Violation of our neutrality statutes is an offense against the domestic sovereignty of the United States and is to be punished on competent proof that the wrong complained of was done contrary to our laws and within their jurisdiction. This Government is disposed to take every possible means within the power of the United States to prevent hostile attempts being set on foot within their jurisdiction against the peace of the Republic of Guatemala, should occasion arise. The same is also true as regards either of the other Central American states. But to give assurance that the power of this Government will be allied with that of Guatemala to prevent alleged violations of our neutrality against the peace of the other Central American Republics is a step which this Government cannot take. In the event, however, of evidence of such violation being presented in the proper way as respects any one of those States, no effort would be spared to prevent and punish to the fullest extent of the law any persons charged with the violation of the neutrality statutes of the United States. In this connection I take occasion also to acknowledge the receipt of your telegram of the 19th instant upon this subject. T. F. BAYARD. I am, &e., No. 480.] No. 40. Mr. Hall to Mr. Bayard. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES IN CENTRAL AMERICA, Guatemala, March 19, 1886. (Received April 17.) SIR: In his dispatch No. 466, of the 27th January last, Mr. Pringle reports to the Department that a treaty of peace between Nicaragua and Salvador was signed at Amapala, on or about the 12th of December, 1885, as the result of a conference of delegates from all of the Central American states. The conference did not take place in December, but on the 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th of January, and resulted in the reestablishment of friendly relations between those states through the mediation of the delegates from the others. The convention, it cannot be called a treaty, was signed on the 13th of January. I inclose a copy and translation. The spirit manifested at the conference appears to have been highly conciliatory; the parties agreed to waive all expla nations and the discussion of their respective grievances, limiting such discussion to the prime object of the conference, the renewal of their interrupted friendly relations, and the promotion of peace and tranquillity among the peoples of their states as an imperative necessity. The fourth and last article of the convention provides for the settlement of future questions and disputes by arbitration; after having made use of other peaceful means of conciliation, it is agreed that such questions shall be submitted to the foreign diplomatic representatives in Central America, and, in case they should object, to the decision of one or more friendly Governments. The convention was signed by the delegates of Nicaragua and Salvador as parties thereto, and by the delegates of Guatemala, Honduras, and Costa Rica as mediators. It has since been ratified by the Govern ments of the two states most interested. |